Bach-Busoni - Ich ruf zu dir, Herr, BWV 639

[andhow04]

one of the greatest but also smallest of Busoni's Bach transcriptions, Ich ruf zu dir, Herr is an organ chorale prelude included in bach's Orgelbüchlein. it features a clear, ornamented chorale melody in the soprano; a winding, viola like accompaniment-commentary in the alto/tenor range, and a pulsing bass. the expression of the chorale tune is so pure, and the harmonies underneath so haunting, it becomes a true meditation on the chorale text, which is a lament, and in a turn of phrase i like, asking for mercy in this sense: "Den rechten Weg, o Herr, ich mein" or, "The right path, O Lord,  is what I mean."

Busoni's transcriptions are special not only for the ingenuity of arranging two hands and two feet for two hands alone, but also because of his desire to recreate the sonority of the organ in its various stops (sometimes which produce dissonance) and its spatial organization. so in this one, he adds 4 bars at the end that is not in Bach's original score. they are an echo of the last phrase "I will always keep to your Word," that I believe is meant to evoke an echo from the gallery organ, at the back of the nave, with the shutters closed. so not only is it meant to be quite soft, but should also sound as if from a distance.

i love this piano version and when i first got the score i played it over and over again until i memorized it, in that one sitting. enjoy

[lelle]

Lovely playing with beautiful layering of the different elements and touching expression!